The future of cancer: can we find a cure?

A special Sydney Ideas event at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research

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Hear from a panel of experts responding to the question: How will cellular therapy, immunotherapy, personalised medicine, and the use of big data impact cancer treatments?

Internationally recognised cancer researcher and Children's Medical Research Institute Director, Professor Roger Reddel, will be joined by a panel of experts who will provide their insights and aspirations into new anti-cancer treatments, and the practicalities of translating research into clinical practice. Improving early detection, understanding and inhibiting the immortalisation of cancer cells, addressing the interaction between cancers and other illnesses, and the application of data science to make best use of existing clinical data, are some of the most promising strategies in contemporary cancer research and treatment.

The Speakers:

Professor Roger Reddel, medical oncologist, molecular geneticist and an internationally renowned expert on cancer cell immortalisation. He is Director of Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI), Westmead and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Sciences. His research career on the cellular and molecular biology of immortalisation commenced as a postdoctoral scientist (Fulbright Fellow) at the National Cancer Institute, Maryland, USA, where he improved techniques for immortalisation of human cells in vitro and made the key finding that immortalisation is necessary for malignant transformation of human cells.

Professor Anna DeFazio, Sydney West Chair in Translational Cancer Research in Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Neonatology at the Westmead Clinical School.

Dr Matteo Carlino, Medical Oncologist at Westmead and Blacktown Hospitals, Clinical Senior Lecturer at The University of Sydney, and a Faculty Member at MIA. He has recently completed a PhD examining predictors of response and mechanisms of resistance to BRAF and MEK inhibitor treated melanoma.

The Westmead precinct is one of the largest health, education and research precincts in Australia. Sydney Ideas, the University of Sydney’s public events program, is partnering with the precinct to open conversations about teaching, research and innovation to the whole community. Join us for light refreshments from 5.15pm for a 5.30pm start.

WIMR Hall is located on level 2 (street entry level from the institute's front door). WIMR is a secure building. Please ring the doorbell to speak to reception, and sign in for access.

Keen to keep the discussion flowing? Stay around for drinks and light refreshments 7 – 7:30pm.

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